Equal Education Benefits Everyone, Including Business
By Chamber Visionary Anne Marie Levis, President & Creative Director of Funk/Levis & Associates
|
For me, “good enough” has never been good enough. I seek the exceptional. If I can't find it, I strive to create it. That’s been one of the joys of living in Eugene for the past 25 years. I’ve been able to create a (sort of) balanced life of working hard at a business I love, raising a family, and giving back to the community that my husband and I chose all those years ago.
Now and again, I find it important to take time and contemplate my values, how these values are reflected in our work, here, at Funk/Levis, and the impact our company makes on the broader community. Our business has always been about doing exceptional and valuable work for our clients. We consider our clients to be our closest friends, and we view ourselves as part of their businesses. We see our work directly impacting the economy, because when our clients succeed, our economy grows. It's as simple as that. I am so appreciative of the team we have here at Funk/Levis because we’re unified in our commitment to invest in this community. It's because of this collaboration and these shared values that helped our firm become the first winner of the Emerald Award for Community Caring. Looking back, I realize that winning this award was motivation for us to continue giving back every year. Looking forward, I see the need to refine the opportunities available to our youth, so they can meet the unique demands of our community. I have always been a firm believer that education is the foundation of our democracy and a critical component of this region’s economic engine. A strong educational structure helps level the playing field to ensure that our most vulnerable citizens are afforded the same opportunities as their peers. As a mom, and 4J School District board member, I recognize that we have a responsibility to find new ways of keeping our youth interested and involved in their education. Many of these students have more obstacles to overcome than most of us could imagine. It benefits all of us for them to grow up to be successful, contributing citizens. But more than that, they need these tools to live their best lives, now and in the future. This is why my firm is so committed to helping pass the 4J bond measure. We are donating our time to this important cause, knowing that investing in schools increases the likelihood that students will stay engaged and be more successful. I invite you to join me on this worthwhile adventure to ensure our young people have the opportunities and help they need, so their education is fun, rather than something to worry about. Whether you choose to contribute by providing jobs for the next generation or donating your time and resources to today’s youth, together we can create a brighter future and an even stronger community. |
Enjoy the read? Check out more great content.
